Terrorism and the Constitution

This book contributes to the ongoing national debate on civil liberties during the war on terrorism by providing easy access to relevant documents from major post-9/11 cases. The book’s goal is to give students an opportunity to consider two fundamental questions and explore other issues related to them. First, is the war on terrorism a type of war that requires a shift in the balance between national security and individual rights? Second, following the 9/11 attacks, are the three branches of the federal government functioning properly? It is imperative to define the role of the President, the Congress, and the federal judiciary in this new kind of war in which suicidal terrorists are actively seeking access to weapons of mass destruction. The specific issues raised in these post-9/11 cases are the basis for evaluating the proper balance between national security and individual rights during the war on terrorism and the respective roles of the three branches of the federal government.